Litter enforcement

If you drop litter in Salford, you could face a £150 fine!

Police community support officers and council enforcement officers are able to issue fixed penalty notices to anyone seen dropping litter in the street.

As part of their commitment to a litter-free city, Salford have an environmental crime unit who help keep it clean!

Please remember that this is something which you can help with. If you're out and about in Salford and you have litter - just bin it! You could also become a Salford Litter Hero.

Report a litter problem online

Pay fine online

Frequently asked questions

Why are you doing this?

We want to achieve a litter-free city. The council wants to encourage local people not to drop litter and instead help keep the city environment clean. If this means fining people, then this is something we must do. We want people to think twice before dropping litter.

What's the fine?

We will issue a fixed penalty on-the-spot notice of £150 for littering offences. Failure to pay can lead to further sanctions, including fines of up to £2,500 for each offence.

Who can get fined?

Anyone from 14 years and above who drops litter in a public place or private place that is in the open air.

Where can people get fined?

Any public or private place that is open to the air including recreation areas, roads, pavements, land belonging to hospitals, schools, colleges, car parks... almost anywhere in fact! The council intends to pay particular attention to areas where there have been littering problems in the past - including routes to and from secondary schools, outside shops and similar litter hotspots.

Do offenders have to pay the enforcement officer there and then?

No, we will take their name and address and they will be handed a notice. They will then have 14 days to pay the fixed penalty fine.

What happens if they refuse to pay the fine?

Court action will be initiated, which can lead to a fine of up to £2,500.

Can I appeal against being issued with a fixed penalty notice?

In law there is no appeal available against the issuing of the fixed penalty notice for littering. If you believe you did not commit the offence then you can ask for the matter to be reviewed by submitting details, via report it, of why you believe you did not commit the littering offence.

Why will you fine people now when this has been a problem for years?

New legislation is now in place which means that the council has the authority to prosecute people for littering. The costs of providing a street cleansing service are rising all the time, and we must use every means at our disposal to clean the city and keep it clean for the benefit of all.

Was Salford the first council to fine people?

No. All local authorities now have the power to fine people for dropping litter but Salford City Council is among the first councils to actually enforce the legislation.

Under which legislation do these powers fall?

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. For all offences under these Acts, penalties may be imposed by either the council or local magistrates' or crown court, ranging from a fixed penalty notice to a fine of up to £2,500 for non-payment of the fixed penalty.

What are you going to do with the money collected from fines?

This money now stays with the council but must be spent back into the service to improve the environment for everyone.

What happens if there isn't a litter bin nearby?

There are nearly 1,750 litter bins in Salford, so there should be one within walking distance of most litter hotspots. But if there isn't a litter bin handy, please be a responsible citizen and take your litter home with you.

If you have any suggestions or complaints regarding the siting, or non-siting, of a litter bin in your area, please report it

What is the cost of keeping the streets clean?

Currently, Salford City Council clears around 4,000 tonnes of litter from the city's streets each year. Being litter conscious helps save the council a substantial amount of money which can be put to much better use.

This page was last updated on 31 May 2022

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